A New First

I have a new first!  My very first handspun skein of yarn!

Can you believe it?!  It's not perfect but I love it. Very thin and then chunky in places!  Still, it's my first!

I'm already thinking of what projects I want to use for this

The roving was 1 oz of an 80% Merino 20% Tussah Silk.  It spun up nice and quick.  And I think I was starting to get the feel for the process there at the end. I spun using the drop spindle I purchased from LaTeaDa Designs a few years ago.

I'm really excited to use this now.  But first it's in the finishing process (wash and dry to set the spin {I'm learning so much!}).  Even though it's not ready for knitting yet, I can start contemplating what I want to use it with.  I only got roughly 45 yards.  For my first try, I was impressed I got that much.  So do I make a small critter like the Bluebird of Happiness, or use it as an accent on a hat or shawl? Decisions...

From the Stash

So this year started off as a stash down, sort of, kind of year.  I made a deal with hubster that since he agreed to take me to the Carolina FiberFest (which was this  past!) that until we go I would not buy new yarn.  Instead, I would work out of my stash and then stock up at the festival. 

I'm proud to say that with a few minor exceptions, yarn for a few hats (two of which will be for him), I have done that.

Below are photos are each project I've worked or am working that have all been knit from my stash so far this year.

First: I'm currently knitting a pair of Hermione's Everyday Socks.  I modified them to knit toe up and used a Fish Lips Kiss Heel.  I love this pattern and the heel. This will be a very favorite heel, I can already tell after one heel.  I'm knitting these using Happy Feet yarn.  I'm not sure of the colorway but it is very lovely! I know I'm going to call them my crushed gingerbread house socks.  I got this my head one day while looking at the yarn and it's stayed with me ever since.

I also knit Tin Can Knit's Barley hat for myself.  I love this hat.  It is their Simple Collection of patterns.  This is an ebook of eight fantastic, beginner patterns but there really is nothing beginner about the look of the patterns.  They are awesome. Fast and easy and they look great.  I knit this using some Impeccable yarn I'd picked up last year for my daughter's pumpkin hat.

I also purchased the ebook Summer Memories by Georgie Hallam.  This ebook contains four patterns of mother-daughter matching cardigans. I love them and plan on knitting all four. For the first two, Carousel and Summer Carnival, I'm using Knit Picks' Simply Cotton sport weight.  I purchased this yarn quite a while back when they discontinued the colorway. But I do love it.  This one is my daughter's sweater.  Mine is still on the needles and I'm hoping for a matching set by Mother's Day.  I was originally aiming for Easter but I still have a way to go on mine.

So next, is a matchy-matchy pair of socks for me and my daugher.  I love these stripped socks.  This is a basic toe-up sock using Paton's Kroy Sock yarn in the blue stripe ragg colorway. They are so awesome.  I love them.

Whew, are we done yet?  Well, almost.

I have also cast on using stash yarn the Follow Your Arrow lace shawl by Isolda Teague.  I have not made very good progress on this shawl because I am one of those types of knitters who has to be in the right frame of mind to knit lace.  And apparently I wasn't when I started this one the first five times. So, yeah, not that far along.  I will work on it here and there as I want a lace fix. Still, I am knitting this from stash yarn, Cascade 220 Fingering weight in a red and teal.  It is very pretty so far.

And finally! I cast on a tunic style sweater for my daughter.  This one is called Strimma by Yarn-Madness (aka Madeliene Nilsson). I'm using some Knit Picks Dishie in a red and eggshell.

So, that about sums up what I've knit from or am knitting from stash this year.  I think. As I knit along I will post more of my stash down 2014 progress.

However, in my next post, I'll most likely talk about about the Carolina FiberFest and what enhancements to the stash were made there. :)

So Much Goodness

Back in the fall, the hubster and myself went on a long weekend getaway to Blue Ridge, GA.  We had so much fun that we went back the weekend after Thanksgiving and took our daughter with us.  This is such a wonderful town and scenic part of Georgia.  If you haven't been I would highly recommend. There is so much wonderful things to do.

While we were there we visited Mercier Orchards.  What a wonderful place.  On our first visit, I purchased a small jar of Bunch O' Berries Jam.  Well, that didn't last long. Oh my word at how much goodness had been squeezed into that tiny little jar.

So when we went back in November, I thought, yeah, I've got this figured out.  This time I'm getting the big jar!  Well, the big jar did last longer. But sadly not as long as I'd like.  Between me and the Wee One, that stuff was gone fast.

Thankfully, a friend of hubster has family in Blue Ridge and went for a visit.  This kind soul brought me back, count them, three big jars! Oh yeah. That's right!Now we're enjoying this yummy goodness again and this time, maybe, it will last until our next trip to the orchard!